Republicans Seek $32 Billion in Spending Cuts

Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives will seek $32 billion in spending cuts from current levels this year as part of an effort to reduce a forecasted $1.5 trillion deficit.

Aides to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan outlined the savings to reporters Thursday. These spending cuts would become part of a bill to fund a wide range of federal government programs through the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

Federal programs currently are running on stop-gap funding that runs out March 4. The House is aiming to pass the new legislation the week of Feb. 14. The House Appropriations Committee still must fill in the details of how the spending cuts would be carried out. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Vicki Allen)